Baseball or softball fielding aid accessory

ABSTRACT

A baseball or softball fielding aid accessory comprises an arcuate panel, at least two first straps, at least a second strap, and at least one retaining element. The arcuate panel comprises an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is in contact with a forearm of the fielder. The first straps are fixedly attached to the outer surface of the arcuate panel. The first straps are positioned at a first end of the arcuate panel for fastening the arcuate panel to the forearm of the fielder. The second strap is positioned at a second end of the arcuate panel for fastening the glove of the fielder to the arcuate panel. The at least one retaining element is fixedly attached to the inner surface of the arcuate panel defining a space. The hand of the fielder is retained in the space to properly field ground balls.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein generally relates to baseball or softball accessories. More particularly, the invention relates to a baseball or softball fielding aid accessory for positioning a hand or a glove of a fielder to properly field ground balls.

BACKGROUND

Baseball or softball refers to a bat and ball game, which remains highly popular in many regions of the world, for example, North America, South America, the Caribbean, East Asia, etc. With increasing popularity, baseball or softball is played in multiple professional league formats across the world. Traditionally, baseball or softball fielders caught ground balls or fly balls using their bare hands. Over time, gloves were invented to prevent injuries to hands of fielders. Fielding ground balls requires proper technique and form of the forearm, wrist, and hand simultaneously. Bad form or technique can lead to injuries that may jeopardize a player's career. Additionally, bad form or technique may lead to misfields that must be avoided in pro-competitive games. A baseball or softball accessory, which improves the technique and form of a wrist and hand of a fielder, is required.

In the past, players were taught to field by watching other fielders who were already experienced in proper fielding techniques. Typically, players were instructed to get underneath the ball and scoop it instead of putting their glove in the right spot to have better success. Many players like to flip their hand or glove instead of leaving the glove fingers pointed down. Moreover, the glove or hand was to be positioned flat to the ground. A baseball or softball accessory, which allows an individual to achieve a good technique and form of a wrist and hand of a fielder or player in the baseball or softball game, is required.

Hence, there is a long felt but unresolved need for a baseball or softball accessory, which fix or correct the technique form of a wrist, and hand of the kids, pros, or all prospective fielders, or for learning a general skill set. Furthermore, there is a need for a baseball or softball accessory, which allows an individual to achieve a good technique and form of a wrist and hand of the kids, pros, or all prospective fielders, or for learning a general skill set.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further disclosed in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory disclosed herein addresses the above-mentioned need for a baseball or softball accessory, which improves the technique and form of a wrist and hand of a fielder. Furthermore, the invention addresses the need for a baseball or softball accessory, which allows an individual to achieve a good technique and form of a wrist and hand of a fielder or player. The baseball or softball players may include players of any age, experience or level. The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory for positioning a hand or a glove of a fielder to properly field ground balls comprises an arcuate panel, at least two first straps, at least one second strap, and at least one retaining element. The arcuate panel comprises an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the arcuate panel is in contact with a forearm of the fielder. The two first straps are fixedly attached to the outer surface of the arcuate panel. The two first straps are positioned at a first end of the arcuate panel for fastening the arcuate panel to the forearm of the fielder. The second strap is positioned at a second end of the arcuate panel for fastening the glove of the fielder to the arcuate panel. The retaining element is fixedly attached to the inner surface of the arcuate panel defining a space. The hand of the fielder is retained in the space to properly field ground balls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and structures disclosed herein. The description of a method step or a structure referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to the description of that method step or structure shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein.

FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a baseball or softball fielding aid accessory.

FIG. 2 exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a baseball or softball fielding aid accessory strapped on a forearm of a fielder.

FIG. 3 exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a baseball or softball fielding aid accessory strapped on a forearm of a fielder and attached to a glove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100. The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 for positioning a hand 201 or a glove 301 of a fielder, as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 2-3, to properly field ground balls comprises an arcuate panel 101, at least two first straps 102, at least one second strap 103, and at least one retaining element 104. The arcuate panel 101 comprises an inner surface 101 a and an outer surface 101 b. The first straps 102 are fixedly attached to the outer surface 101 b of the arcuate panel 101. In an embodiment, the first straps 102 fasten the arcuate panel 101 to the forearm of the fielder via first fastening members 102 a. In an embodiment, the first fastening members 102 a are hook and loop fasteners, for example, Velcro® of Velcro Industries B.V. LLC. In another embodiment, the first fastening members 102 a are, for example, snap fasteners, etc. The first straps 102 are positioned at a first end 101 c of the arcuate panel 101. The second strap 103 is positioned at a second end 101 d of the arcuate panel 101. The second strap 103 fastens the glove 301 of the fielder to the arcuate panel 101 via the second fastening member 103 a as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3.

In an embodiment, the second fastening member 103 a is a hook and loop fastener, for example, Velcro® of Velcro Industries B.V. LLC. In another embodiment, the second fastening member 103 a is, for example, a snap fastener, etc. The retaining element 104 is fixedly attached to the inner surface 101 a of the arcuate panel 101 defining a space 105 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1. In an embodiment, the retaining element 104 is, for example, an elastic band, etc. The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 teaches baseball/softball players to use proper hand, glove, wrist form, and positioning to field ground balls. The baseball or softball player may include player of any age, experience or level. In an embodiment, the arcuate panel 101 is a rigid plate that is positioned on the forearm 202 of the fielder as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 2. Moreover, the arcuate panel 101 is stationary and neither movable nor adjustable once the baseball fielding aid accessory 100 is attached. The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 is intended to force a fielder's hand 201, which helps train a player to position the hand 201 and the glove 301 in an optimum position as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 2-3. In an embodiment, the arcuate panel 101 does not contain a padding. The arcuate panel 101 only contains a cover over the rigid form.

The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 enhances muscle memory of the proper hand and wrist technique to allow the fielder to field ground balls. The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 attaches to the lower forearm 202 using the retaining element 104 and attaches to the glove 301 via the second fastener 103 a as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The retaining element 104 and the inner surface 101 a of the arcuate panel 101 define a space 105. The hand 201 of the fielder is restrained by the retaining element 104 within the space 105. This ensures proper form of the hand 201, the forearm 202, and the wrist of the fielder. The arcuate configuration of the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 ensures proper fielding technique of the player. The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 does not function as a guard or protection for any part of the wrist, forearm, hand, etc. The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 works to force a fielder to use the correct form of the wrist and prevents players from having bad form during fielding.

FIG. 2 exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 strapped on a forearm 202 of a fielder. The inner surface 101 a is in contact with a forearm 202 of the fielder. The first straps 102 are positioned at a first end 101 c of the arcuate panel 101 for fastening the arcuate panel to the forearm 202 of the fielder. In an embodiment, the first straps 102 fasten the arcuate panel 101 to the forearm 202 of the fielder via first fastening members 102 a as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1. The second strap 103 is positioned at a second end 101 d of the arcuate panel 101 for fastening the glove 301 of the fielder to the arcuate panel 101. In an embodiment, the retaining element 104 is fixedly attached to the inner surface 101 a of the arcuate panel 101 defining a space 105, exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1. The hand 201 of the fielder is retained in the space 105 to properly field ground balls.

FIG. 3 exemplarily illustrates a perspective view of a baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 strapped on a forearm 202 of a fielder and attached to a glove 301. The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 teaches baseball or softball players to use proper hand 201, glove 301, wrist form, and positioning to field ground balls. By attaching the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 onto the forearm 202 above the wrist before placing the hand 201 into the glove 301, players are prevented from using bad form or technique to properly field ground balls. The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 ensures the proper form of the glove 301 pointing down with minimal hand 201 or wrist movement. The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 teaches players to create muscle memory of proper positioning of the hand 201 and the glove 301. Players can use the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 on everyday practice sessions to create muscle memory and fielding habits to improve form and fielding capabilities of a player. The baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 could be used by any baseball or softball player including player of any age, experience or level.

The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100, disclosed herein. While the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 has been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further, although the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100, has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may effect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory 100 disclosed herein in their aspects. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A baseball or softball fielding aid accessory for positioning an extremity of a fielder to properly field ground balls, the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory comprising: an arcuate panel comprising at least two first straps positioned at a first end of the arcuate panel for fastening the arcuate panel to a forearm of the fielder, wherein an inner surface of the arcuate panel is in contact with the forearm of the fielder; and at least one retaining element fixedly attached to the inner surface of the arcuate panel, the inner surface of the arcuate panel and the at least one retaining element defining a space, wherein the extremity of the fielder is retained in the space to properly field ground balls.
 2. The fielding aid accessory of claim 1, wherein the extremity of the fielder is a hand of the fielder.
 3. The fielding aid accessory of claim 1, further comprising a glove detachably attached to a second end of the arcuate panel for enclosing the extremity of the fielder to properly field ground balls.
 4. A baseball or softball fielding aid accessory for positioning a hand or a glove of a fielder to properly field ground balls, the baseball or softball fielding aid accessory comprising: an arcuate panel comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface in contact with a forearm of the fielder; at least two first straps fixedly attached to the outer surface of the arcuate panel, the at least two first straps positioned at a first end of the arcuate panel for fastening the arcuate panel to the forearm of the fielder; at least one second strap positioned at a second end of the arcuate panel for fastening the glove of the fielder to the arcuate panel, wherein the glove encloses the hand of the fielder; and at least one retaining element fixedly attached to the inner surface of the arcuate panel, the inner surface of the arcuate panel and the at least one retaining element defining a space, wherein the hand of the fielder is retained in the space to properly field ground balls.
 5. The fielding aid accessory of claim 4, wherein the at least two first straps fasten the arcuate panel to the forearm of the fielder via first fastening members.
 6. The fielding aid accessory of claim 5, wherein the first fastening members are hook and loop fasteners.
 7. The fielding aid accessory of claim 4, wherein the at least one second strap fastens the glove of the fielder to the arcuate panel via second fastening members.
 8. The fielding aid accessory of claim 7, wherein the second fastening members are hook and loop fasteners.
 9. The fielding aid accessory of claim 4, wherein the arcuate panel is of a rigid material.
 10. The fielding aid accessory of claim 4, wherein the retaining element is an elastic band. 